For eCommerce, an efficient site search function is absolutely vital for providing a top-quality customer experience and making sales more likely. Our article explores the importance of site search., and the role of Product Information Management (PIM) plays in improving search functionality. We’ll also provide some practical strategies to optimise your site search for better results.
How to improve your site search with PIM
Table of Contents
What is site search?
Site search is a critical feature of an eCommerce platform, It permits customers to quickly find the products they are looking for. It involves a search box where users can enter queries and receive relevant results from the site’s product catalogue. Effective site search not only improves the customer experience but also increases the likelihood of conversions. According to studies, site search is 1.8 times more effective at producing conversions, highlighting its importance in the customer journey.
How can a PIM solution help you?
Product Information Management (PIM) systems play a central role in optimising site search by ensuring that all product information is accurate, up-to-date, and enriched with relevant keywords. A PIM system acts as a central repository for all product data, making it easier to manage and syndicate content across multiple channels. By leveraging PIM, businesses can enhance their SEO strategy, improve product findability, and guarantee consistency across all touchpoints.
Faceted search
Faceted search is an advanced search feature which allows users to narrow down search results by selecting multiple product attributes such as size, colour, brand, or price range. Unlike traditional filters, facets are dynamic and appear based on the user’s search query, providing a more personalised and efficient search experience. Implementing faceted search significantly improves product discovery and user engagement.SEO – ranking and keywords
An effective SEO strategy is foundational for ranking high on search engine results pages (SERPs) and driving traffic to your eCommerce site. PIM solutions can help optimise product pages for SEO by incorporating relevant keywords into product descriptions, titles, and metadata. High-quality content enriched with keywords improves visibility and attracts more customers. Moreover, PIM systems manage your digital assets, such as images and videos, ensuring they are optimised for search and add valuable and attractive information to the overall product experience.6 ways of improving your site search with PIM
Optimise keywords for product pages:
PIM systems empower businesses to integrate optimised keywords into product descriptions and metadata so that products appear in relevant search queries. By analysing search data, PIM identifies the most effective keywords and incorporates them seamlessly into your product content.
Leverage keywords across social media:
Social media platforms are increasingly valuable channels for attracting customers in volume, especially from the lower age segments. A PIM solution supports businesses in transferring optimised keywords from product pages to social media posts, creating a consistent and recognisable brand presence across platforms.Create unique and high-quality content:
Using boilerplate information from manufacturers damages SEO, because the search engine’s algorithms recognise it as such. PIM systems enable businesses to create unique, engaging, and informative product descriptions that stand out in search results and add real value to the customer journey.Maintain consistency across channels:
Consistent use of keywords and product information across all sales channels is a key factor in building brand recognition and trust. PIM ensures that all product data is uniform, accurate, and up-to-date, regardless of how it is reaching the potential customer.Enhance digital assets:
PIM systems with Digital Asset Management (DAM) functionality can optimise images and videos for search. Attaching relevant metadata to digital assets improves their visibility in search results and improves the overall product experience.Implement faceted search:
PIM systems help organise product attributes, making it easier to implement faceted search. This feature allows users to refine search results dynamically, improving product discovery and reducing the time it takes for customers to find what they need.Final thoughts
Improving your site search is essential for providing a superior customer experience and increasing conversions. By leveraging the capabilities of a PIM system, you can optimise product information, enhance search functionality, and maintain consistency across all channels.
At Start with Data, we specialise in helping businesses implement and optimise PIM solutions tailored to their needs. Our expert services cover PIM platform selection, implementation, integration, product content enrichment, taxonomy design, and product data governance—ensuring your product data is accurate, structured, and ready to drive sales.
Want to improve your site search with better product data? Explore how our PIM services can help.